The Organised Labour said on Monday that its planned nationwide strike to protest the removal of petroleum subsidy would hold as planned.
The strike is scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
The unions, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), spoke after a meeting with government representatives at the presidential villa on Monday and ahead of the nationwide broadcast by President Bola Tinubu.
The unions expressed doubt about the ability of President Tinubu to effectively control inflation and petrol price due to the unification of the exchange rate.
Joe Ajaero, president of the NLC, said the plan for workers to engage in a peaceful protest starting from Wednesday remained on course.
He dismissed fears of the protest being hijacked by hoodlums, saying that such incidents had never occurred in the history of workers’ protests.
He, however, emphasised that it was the responsibility of the security agencies to ensure the safety of the demonstrators.
Ajaero expressed doubts about the effectiveness of Tinubu’s plan to intervene in the exchange rate in an attempt to address inflation and the high cost of petrol.
He posited that it would be difficult to exert control, given the reliance on imported energy and the absence of comparative advantages.
Ajaero also highlighted the challenges faced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in resisting tariff increases, as well as the significant increase in the price of corn in rural areas.
Participants in Monday’s meeting included Ajaero, representatives from the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other delegates from the labour unions.
On the government side were Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff to the president; and Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer of Nigerian National Petroleum company Limited (NNPCL); among others.
The meeting of the labour unions and government representatives was then adjourned till 12 noon on Tuesday.
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